Experiences with Pyramid Comm SVR200 Vehicular Repeater?

Post by **HumHead** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 8:06 pm

Has anyone worked with the Pyramid Communications SVR200 vehicular repeaters, particularly with the DTMF channel steering kit?

It's not totally off topic, I'm considering adding them to several low band CDM1550s

kf4lhp · Post by **kf4lhp** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 9:14 pm

A friend has one in a TV ENG truck... uses an 800 Maxtrac tied in to a UHF high power Maratrac... he carries a MTX 800 MHz portable to talk back to the truck and out on the UHF mobile. Works awesome! I don't think he uses the DTMF channel steering, but another friend used them in the past with Kenwood mobiles and did make use of channel steering and had nothing but praise for them.

I've never heard a bad word about them, and what I was told was that if they do not have the wiring harnesses to interface to your particular radio (rare), you just send them the radios and they will custom fabricate the harnesses for you.

--mws
http://www.scanchattanooga.com/

PCSAR 4x4 652 · Post by **PCSAR 4x4 652** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 9:50 pm

for $2300.00, I should hope all you hear is PRAISE!

I don't care for the hardwired interface though.

Post by **HumHead** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 10:52 pm

Gasp, Wheeze, Choke!!! :O

Where did you get that number? The last time I looked at these (several years ago) list was around $1,200 (without the channel steering), and state contract was in the low $900s.

It looks like they have plug-and-play harnesses for the CDMs.

I'll give them a call tommorow and get the straight story. I was just curious if these had a reputation for quality or otherwise.

Thanks!

kf4lhp · Post by **kf4lhp** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 10:54 pm

The fellow I know who has the Pyramid in his ENG truck told me his was about $1000...

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 11:47 pm

WOW!!! that IS expensive.

My extender module would work for 125! and it IS Plug and Play for most radios.

jim · Post by **jim** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 5:11 am

Well, Will beat me to that one. He makes a unit that will work.

Also, Vertex makes a rather nice 16 channel unit that's half the price of the Pyramid.

PCSAR 4x4 652 · Post by **PCSAR 4x4 652** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 9:11 am

interfacing one to a Spectra is (according to thier web page) is a hard wire straight to the board. I may be wrong on the price but it seemed to me that was the price I saw on thier website for the one i needed. it was last year around October I was looking for one.
They may have sarted making a tcable for the SPectra now, but before it was hardwired into the radio.

Post by **HumHead** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 10:47 am

I spoke to the folks at Pyramid today. Here's what I got:
1) List on the SVR-200 is $1250
2) List on the RCS200 channel steering kit is $150
3) The CDM radios are plug-and-play (I,m afraid I forgot to ask about the Spectra)

The Vertex unit looks intriguing. I'll have to get more information on it. The big drawback would be if it didn't do channel steering.

The things that were pushing towards the Pyramid unit instead of something like Will's (very highly recommended) unit were:
1) Built in narrow-band transciever
2) Channel steering
3) Voice synthesizer announcement of channel changes- a huge plus given our user base's level of skill.
4) Multiple unit priority resolution- given that we will frequently have multiple units at a scene

Thanks all!

Will- Correct me if I'm horribly underestimating the abilities of your unit. I have heard nothing but praise for your products, and I'm sure I'll be using them on something somewehere.

Vern · Post by **Vern** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 11:23 am

I've had the VXR 1000U for almost 2 years. Does a very good job, however, it doesn't do channel steering. Maybe that's why its half the price of the SVR 2000

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 6:54 pm

The Piramid units are simular to the older Motorola Extender. They turn the simplex transmitter on the extender channel on and off at a fairly fast rate to allow a portable to interupt and take control of the mobile transmitter. There is also circuits that look for other "extenders" on the same frequency and somehow allow only one unit to work in the same aera.
My Extender module is more like a "link" between two radios, first receiver keys the second transmitter, ect;.
I am going to look into the Piramid units as they are in So. Cal. I'd love to find the points they solder wires into a Spectra radio, and maybe the X9000 too while I am at it.

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 5:09 pm

Does anyone have the website url for the mention of made to order cables from Pyramid?

I am also very interested.

When you stated that the CDM series is "plug & play", you did not mention if they provide a cable (for a fee$) or if one has to be made up.

Thanks

Post by **HumHead** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 5:25 pm

Pyramid's site is at:

http://www.pyramidcomm.com

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Sat Apr 27, 2002 5:38 pm

Anyone know the difference between the SVR-2000 and the SVR-200?

Thanks

Susan157 · Post by **Susan157** » Sun Apr 28, 2002 3:59 am

Ok radio dudes,what is radio channel steering?
Does that mean you are able to change channels from remote?
Steering is the word in question.Remote channel changing has been here for some time.

Mike B · Post by **Mike B** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 11:32 am

Motorola uses the word "Steering" to refer to a hand held radio using different PL tones in conjunction with a Vehicle Repeater System to make the mobile radio attached to the VRS change modes depending on which hand held PL tone is used.

You can substitute "channels" for the word "modes" above. Motorola uses the term "Mode" because lots of things besides the operating frequency are selected with the control. I guess they felt "channel" was not an adequate description. They may have also had a sudden fit of marketing

.

The Motorola mobile can be RSS programmed to occupy the steered mode only for the duration of the hand held repeat (you will not receive any response on the steered mode receive frequency), for the duration of the hand held repeat with a default hang time so you can receive a response (i.e. the mobile will return to its original mode after the hand held repeat + a few seconds of hang time) or to remain on the steered mode after the hand held repeat.

The standard Motorola VRS can steer up to 4 modes. The Astro Spectra VRS-EP can steer up to 8 modes. I do not know how many modes the new VRS 750 can steer?

I have no idea on how Pyramid interfaced their vehicle repeater to any Motorola radios, how many modes they can steer or how they control their mode steering.
________
Mike B

Mike B · Post by **Mike B** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 1:36 pm

Will,

Take a look at this application note right off the Pyramid web site. It has the Specta connections you wanted too see:
http://www.pyramidcomm.com/RCS200AN.HTM

Download the 128C-PDF file.

They use the Spectra "mode up" key for the channel switch and the "home" key. The Motorola control head row and columb key selector lines from the U1 chip are wired directly to the Pyramid.

According to the RCS-200 manual page:
http://www.pyramidcomm.com/RCSINST.HTM
they force the radio to its home mode then single step the mode up key until they get to the channel programmed by the hand held DTMF keys. I suppose the RCS-200 microprocessor does this very quickly so the radio operator never realizes the channel selection was actually being single stepped.

I did not see anything on the Syntor X 9000 interface.
________
Mike B

Will · Post by **Will** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:05 pm

Iam going to review the materials and see fi I can come up with a simple setup for those who do not have the big bucks.

Post by **HumHead** » Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:46 pm

Keep me posted Will.

Let me know if you come up with anything in the forseeable future.

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Sat May 04, 2002 8:15 pm

we have used several vertex units here in ct they work great

Will · Post by **Will** » Sun May 05, 2002 11:38 am

I have done some looking arround on the Pyramid units and the methods they use for interface. The CDM is much the same as the 16 pin Maxtrac/Radius radios, and the MCS require the addition of a couple of wires and the removal of a couple parts. I am working on a "extender module for MCS, and Spectra radios. I just need to find a simple way to interface them and not have to mess up a radio by changing a lot of things inside, maybe only two added jumpers. ( I don't have any CDM or MCS radios to work with)....

ssybert · Post by **ssybert** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 8:52 am

[quote="The Motorola mobile can be RSS programmed to occupy the steered mode only for the duration of the hand held repeat (you will not receive any response on the steered mode receive frequency), for the duration of the hand held repeat with a default hang time so you can receive a response (i.e. the mobile will return to its original mode after the hand held repeat + a few seconds of hang time) or to remain on the steered mode after the hand held repeat. [/quote]

In correct. You can set the VRS to TX & RX LATCH. It will STAY hooked to the NEW channel selected via PL. If you TX on Mode 1 Via PL 4B it WILL stay on Mode 1 UNTIL you switch off of it with another tone REGARDLESS of what mode the mobile is on (unless you're using scan and talkback, etc.). TX & RX LATCH does allow this to happen. Pretty handy feature.

Ett1033 · Post by **Ett1033** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 8:07 am

I am using the pyramid in-band VHF repeater. It is currently interfaced with a Kenwood TK-790 (H). I use it in a International ambulance. When the repeater is hooked into the radio, it causes an alternater whine. Been looked at by radio techs, and the best we could do was make it tolerable. So, I have a permanent whine, even if I don't use the repeater. We have learned to live with it. Chances are, it is the vehicle itself. The operation of the repeater is fine though. The tech that has worked on it said the pyramid is junk. It does what we need it to do whine or not.

FMROB · Post by **FMROB** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 10:17 am

The pyramid repeaters a highly used on LI and they work extremely well when set up correctly and matched and tweaked to the individual radio to which it will be used. I have in personal use three of the units, and two at work. They all have the last man in feature enabled which works awesome. Unfortunately I don't have channel steering on any of the units, but have worked on units with channel steering. It works great, and has voice confirmation when the mode is changed. The svr was linked to a low band maratrac and worked well.

motastro1 · Post by **motastro1** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 1:51 pm

I snagged a UHF Pyramid repeater off of Ebay a few years ago for around a $150.00 and currently have it hooked to a 50 watt GE Orion radio and it works great.I have the cable that they make just for the Orion and the whole setup works flawlessly.I have heard that the Vertex VXR-1000 vehicle repeaters work excellent also but I have never used one.

n5tbu · Post by **n5tbu** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 8:08 am

I have 3 of these in service on Kenwood 690 lowbands in International trucks,I put a power line filter on the radios and did the mod in the svr manual and then adjusted audio to specs,works great now,with no whine.But I do agree...they are junk!Poorly designed and made.
Mark

afterimage84 · Post by **afterimage84** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 4:17 pm

They work on Trunked systems too. which is neat.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 9:11 am

Just run away if one of them on scene starts malfunctioning. We had one that was all messed up and when you have 4 repeaters on scene with one screwed up, everything goes to hell. You end up with multiple units trying to repeat everything at once and it is a nightmare.

Adamwest · Post by **Adamwest** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 8:14 pm

I have a Vertex mobile vx-4000 vhf radio with a VXR-1000 uhf. Mainly for crossband repeat using a Motorola Ht-750 uhf hand held.
So far I have not had any problems with the rig, once the audio mod. was adjusted to the correct level. Works greats and its least filling lol. The Pyramid just cost to much for me.

good luck

adam

Chad427 · Post by **Chad427** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 4:24 pm

Anyone have any info on this. I have a SVR2000 that works great but do not have two way application for it would be much better served operating to my UHF port repeating my 780. Any help thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreaciated.

Thanks,
Charlie

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